Consumer internet services

ABSTRACT

This patent application describes many novel consumer Internet services which are built on common principles of intelligent hosting, direct trade between individuals and small businesses without middlemen, direct matching of individuals, aggregated persistent search for any commodity or service, and safe electronic commerce and personal communications environment provided by Trusted Net services. This patent application also describes the integration of consumer Internet services into a consumer-centric Internet portal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 11/009,173, filed Dec. 10, 2004.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to methods and systems for integrated consumer Internet services and business Internet services.

BACKGROUND

The system that integrates and coordinates management of personal Internet communications, personal data, and e-commerce is referred to as Personal Internet Coordinator or PIC hereafter. The above mentioned patent application Ser. No. 10/665,319 (or PIC patent application hereafter) described the following major elements of PIC:

-   (a) person-centric data management and Internet communications     platform with global personal identity, single sign-on, enhanced     security, automatic tracking of individuals and their terminals, and     intelligent aggregation, filtering, conversion, and routing of     content between individuals and organizations; -   (b) personal e-commerce platform which facilitates the best price     online shopping for new and used commodities, automates the shopping     process by directly searching the item of interest through many     available online vendors, provides its clients with automated and     persistent search for different types of information, and finds     partners based on the description of an item of interest; -   (c) personal integrated data, commerce and Internet communications     platform.

This patent application describes many novel consumer Internet services which are built on common principles of intelligent hosting, direct trade between individuals and small businesses without middlemen, direct matching of individuals, aggregated persistent search for any commodity or service, and safe electronic commerce and personal communications environment provided by Trusted Net services. This patent application also describes the integration of consumer Internet services into a consumer-centric Internet portal.

Objects and Advantages

This patent application describes the invention which has the following goals and advantages:

-   (a) PIC patent application described many possible implementations     of consumer hosting services. This patent application describes     Intelligent Hosting Services (IHS). IHS adds the following details     to selected implementations of PIC hosting services in order to     reduce the cost of initial deployment:     -   (1) simple secure framework on the client side;     -   (2) simple dashboard UI on the client side;     -   (3) integration with Trusted Net. -   (b) Existing real estate online services do not provide the desired     money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their     clients. This patent application presents a novel Real Estate Portal     Service (REPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers:     -   (1) a single point of access to all relevant real estate data         and services for buyers and sellers;     -   (2) connecting buyers and sellers directly, which is desired by         the buyers and sellers who prefer to save money on real estate         commissions;     -   (3) providing buyers with a novel Persistent Search for Real         Estate Properties in order to find a matching property based on         the buyer's search parameters, and automatically notifying         buyers when a matching property is listed by a seller;     -   (4) providing sellers with a novel Persistent Search for Buyers         in order to find the registered buyers who have a matching         property search profile, and automatically notifying sellers         when a matching property profile is listed by a buyer;     -   (5) providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Real         Estate Properties service, which:         -   i. saves the buyers' time by searching for matching             properties through the online real estate properties             listings of multiple service providers, and         -   ii. saves the buyer's money by searching for the real estate             properties listings in the following order: “for sale by             owner” listings, low-commissions real estate listings,             standard commissions listings;     -   (6) providing sellers with a novel Aggregated Search for Buyer         Listings service, which:         -   i. saves sellers' time by searching for matching wanted             properties profiles through the online real estate buyer             listings of multiple service providers, and         -   ii. saves sellers' money by searching for wanted real estate             properties profiles in the following order: “direct buy”             listings, low-commissions real estate listings, standard             commissions listings;     -   (7) providing proprietary low-cost directories for real estate         buyers and sellers;     -   (8) referring the prescreened sale agents to the sellers who         want the assistance of an agent in selling their property;     -   (9) referring the prescreened buyer agents to the buyers who         want the assistance of the buyer agent;     -   (10) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and         sellers on demand, in order to create a safe trading environment         for consumers;     -   (11) providing powerful visualization tools for the following         functions: describing the property, comparing the selected         properties, providing photographs and virtual tours of         properties, providing other relevant data, including utility         bills, previous home inspections reports, etc. -   (c) Existing car trading online services do not provide the desired     money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their     clients. This patent application presents a novel Cars Portal     Service (CPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers:     -   (1) a single point of access to all relevant car trading data         and services for buyers and sellers;     -   (2) connecting buyers and sellers directly, which is desired by         buyers and sellers who prefer to save money on dealer's         commissions;     -   (3) providing buyers with a novel Persistent Search for Cars in         order to find a matching car based on the buyer's search         parameters, and automatically notifying buyers when a matching         car is listed by a seller;     -   (4) providing sellers with a novel Persistent Search for Buyers         in order to find the registered buyers who have a matching car         search profile, and automatically notifying sellers when a         matching car profile is listed by a buyer;     -   (5) providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Cars         service, which:         -   i. saves the buyers' time by searching for matching cars             through the online car listings of multiple service             providers, and         -   ii. saves the buyer's money by searching for the car             listings in the following order: “for sale by owner”             listings, car dealer sale listings;     -   (6) providing sellers with a novel Aggregated Search for Buyer         Listings service, which:         -   i. saves sellers' time by searching for matching “wanted             cars” profiles through the online car buyer listings of             multiple service providers, and         -   ii. saves sellers' money by searching for the “wanted cars”             listings in the following order: “direct buy from owner”             listings, low-commissions car dealer buy listings, standard             commissions car dealer buy listings;     -   (7) providing proprietary low-cost directories for cars buyers         and sellers;     -   (8) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and sellers         on demand, in order to create a safe trading environment for         consumers;     -   (9) referring the prescreened dealers, inspectors, loan         providers, etc., to the clients who want professional         assistance;     -   (10) providing powerful visualization tools for the following         functions: describing the cars, comparing the selected cars,         providing photographs and virtual tours of cars, providing gas         mileage data, available maintenance records, and any other         relevant market data. -   (d) Existing classifieds online services do not provide the desired     money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their     clients. This patent application presents a novel CLassifieds Portal     Service (CLPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers:     -   (1) a single point of access to all relevant classifieds data         for buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and roommates;     -   (2) novel Persistent Search services for buyers, sellers,         renters, lessors, and roommates;     -   (3) novel aggregated search services which search for the         matching ads through multiple online listings of numerous         providers of classifieds;     -   (4) optional novel prescreening for all types of classifieds         customers on demand, in order to create a safe trading         environment for consumers. -   (e) Existing professional services online Web sites do not provide     the desired money savings, time savings, security, and convenience     to their clients. This patent application presents a novel     Professional Services Portal (PSP) which offers the following     benefits to its customers:     -   (1) a single point of access to all relevant service providers         for buyers of professional services;     -   (2) providing all relevant project and buyers data to the         professional service providers;     -   (3) providing buyers with a novel Persistent Search for Service         Providers in order to find the service providers based on the         buyers' search parameters;     -   (4) providing alerts for the service providers when the buyer         posts a new project which matches the service provider's         profile;     -   (5) providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Service         Providers Listings which searches for the matching service         provider through multiple online listings of multiple         professional service providers directories;     -   (6) providing service providers with a novel Persistent Search         for Projects Service in order to find posted projects based on         the service providers' search parameters;     -   (7) providing service providers with a novel Aggregated Search         for Projects Listings service which searches for the matching         projects and buyers through multiple online listings of multiple         professional projects directories;     -   (8) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and service         providers on demand, in order to create a safe trading         environment for clients;     -   (9) providing a proprietary low-cost directory of service         providers; (10) providing a proprietary low-cost (or free)         directory of buyers of professional services;     -   (11) providing a proprietary low-cost (or free) directory of         professional projects;     -   (12) providing a proprietary bidding system hosting for buyers;     -   (13) providing proprietary bidding system software for the         buyers which prefer to host the bidding process themselves;     -   (14) providing powerful tools for the following functions:         describing the buyers; describing the service providers;         describing the projects; comparing between selected service         providers; comparing between selected buyers; comparing between         selected projects; providing all other relevant market data. -   (f) Existing online dating services do not provide the desired money     savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their clients.     This patent application presents a novel online Dating Portal     Service (DPS) which offers the following benefits to its customers:     -   (1) a single point of access to all relevant dating data for the         clients;     -   (2) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         by providing novel aggregated search services, which         automatically search for the matching partner through multiple         online listings of numerous dating service providers;     -   (3) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         and saving client's time by performing novel Persistent Two-way         Search across multiple providers of dating services;     -   (4) providing the best price/performance dating service for the         clients by performing novel search for a partner in the         following order: from the proprietary low-cost database of         clients to the low-cost partner databases to the high-cost         databases;     -   (5) integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way Search for Dating         Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which refers the         clients to the partnering providers of dating services which are         selected based on the client's criteria;     -   (6) optional novel prescreening for the clients on demand, in         order to create a safe dating environment, which:         -   i. verifies the identity and personal data of the clients,         -   ii. optionally restricts access to the client's data only to             the members of the dating service, whose verified profiles             match the client's search profile for desired partners. -   (g) Existing online social interests matching services do not     provide the desired money savings, time savings, security, and     convenience to their clients. This patent application presents a     novel online Social Interests Matching Portal Service (SIMPS) which     offers the following benefits to its customers:     -   (1) a single point of access to all relevant social interests         matching data for the clients;     -   (2) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         by providing novel aggregated search services, which         automatically search for matching partners through the multiple         online listings of numerous social matching service providers;     -   (3) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         and saving client's time by performing novel Persistent Two-way         Search across multiple providers of social matching services;     -   (4) providing the best price/performance social matching service         for the clients by performing novel search for a partner in the         following order: from the proprietary low-cost database of         clients to the low-cost partner databases to the high-cost         databases;     -   (5) integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way Search for Social         Matching Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which refers         the clients to the partnering providers of social matching         services which are selected based on the client's criteria;     -   (6) optional prescreening for the clients on demand, in order to         create a safe social interaction environment, which:         -   i. verifies the identity and personal data of the clients,         -   ii. optionally restricts access to the client's data only to             the members of the matching service, whose verified profiles             match the client's search profile for desired partners,         -   iii. providing optional “by invitation only” online club             functionality. -   (h) There are numerous security-related concerns which prevent many     individuals from conducting business or engaging in social     interactions with other individuals and small businesses online.     This patent application presents novel Certification and     Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service (CPIOS) which     provides the necessary security by verifying and certifying the     identity, credentials, and claims of the certified party on-demand.     CPIOS is the base for Trusted Net of individuals and small     businesses. CPIOS provides the following advantages over prior art:     -   (1) CPIOS allows authorized parties to view public and private         data of CPIOS clients;     -   (2) CPIOS allows its client to select a subset of personal data         to be viewed by an authorized party;     -   (3) CPIOS aggregates client's data from multiple sources:         government, credit companies, banks, online e-commerce         providers, business and social partners, etc. -   (i) Real-time secure car-pool service (RSCPS) was described in the     PIC patent application. Present patent application expands on the     novel integration of RSCPS with other Internet consumer services.     The proposed RSCPS will have the following features:     -   (1) novel prescreening of car-pool members;     -   (2) novel matching of car-pool partners based on the following         factors: route, personal interests, method of transportation,         and price;     -   (3) novel real-time ride bidding;     -   (4) novel Aggregated Search for car-pool partners across         multiple car-pool directories. -   (j) Existing consumer Internet services are not sufficiently     integrated. Proposed Internet services have the following common     principles:     -   (1) consumer-centric model;     -   (2) utilizing Aggregated Persistent Search model to save time,         money, and to maximize success rate of searches;     -   (3) use of CPIOS for prescreening of trade and social partners         and for personal and business networking;     -   (4) direct person-to-person pooling of interests, trade, and         communications.

Present patent application introduces a novel integrated consumer portal, which will have the following integrated services: REPS, CPS, CLPS, PSP, DPS, SIMPS, RSCPS, Aggregated Persistent Search, CPIOS, and Intelligent Hosting.

Present patent application also introduces novel integrated services which include particular subsets of the proposed individual services as follows:

-   -   (1) DPS and SIMPS;     -   (2) RSCPS and SIMPS deployed together as an integrated offering;     -   (3) DPS, SIMPS, and CLPS combined into an Intelligent         Classifieds and Personals Portal;     -   (4) DPS, SIMPS, CLPS and RSCPS combined into an Intelligent         Classifieds, Personals, and Carpool Portal;     -   (5) RSCPS, CPS, REPS, CLPS, SIMPS, and DPS combined into and         integrated portal for deployment in each particular geographic         area or globally;     -   (6) CPIOS combined with any of above services;     -   (7) Intelligent Hosting combined with any of above services.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating Simple Security Framework of Intelligent Hosting Services.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram generally illustrating the mixed-mode of Persistent Search Service.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Real Estate Portal Service.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Cars Portal Service.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Classifieds Portal Service.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Professional Services Portal.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Dating Portal Service.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Social Interests Matching Portal Service.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Real-time Secure Car-Pool Service.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram generally illustrating the structure of Integrated Consumer Portal.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Intelligent Hosting

PIC patent application described many possible implementations of consumer hosting services. This patent application describes Intelligent Hosting Services (IHS). IHS adds the following details for the selected implementations of PIC hosting services in order to reduce the cost of initial deployment:

(a) simple secure framework on the client side, (b) simple dashboard UI on the client side, (c) integration with Trusted Net.

Existing consumer hosting services (MSN, AOL, Yahoo, etc.) simply serve their hosted clients' Web pages to the visitors of the hosted clients' Web sites. The proposed IHS provides intelligence to the hosted clients and to the visitors by offering the following key functions:

-   (a) a Personal Identity-based Web site for the client which serves     as:     -   (1) a single point of access for the client to all aggregated         filtered data from the client's service-specific accounts: ISP         mail, Internet mail, mobile voice mail, PSTN voice mail,         business mail and voice mail, subscribed alerts: News, Stocks,         Travel, etc;     -   (2) a single point of contact with the client for authorized         individuals and services, indicating client's location, status,         active terminal address, and communication options, and         providing a messaging interface with the client; -   (b) server-side Personal Messaging Coordinator (PMC, described in     PIC patent application), which provides aggregation, filtering, and     routing of client's data from the client's service-specific accounts     to the active terminal; -   (c) dashboard UI application on the client terminal, which:     -   (1) connects with the server-side PMC and alerts the client to         any important messages and events;     -   (2) allows the client to set his/her status, location, and other         real-time data for authorized parties; -   (d) client-side and server-side Simple Security Framework (SSF) for:     -   (1) authenticating provisioned client's terminals;     -   (2) providing optional 2-factor security for the provisioned         client's terminals;     -   (3) providing optional secure Terminal Tracking and User Status         and Location services (TTUSL services, described in PIC patent         application) for the client;     -   (4) providing optional client-side and server-side Single         Sign-On (SSO) for the client.

PIC patent application described server-side and client-side Security Frameworks (SF). In order to provide low-cost IHS, an IHS provider can limit his goals to a subset of PIC SF goals. The main goal of a low-cost IHS SSF is authenticating provisioned client's terminals. There are many ways to provision a client's terminal using low-cost methods.

In the first example, the HIS server can provision the client's terminal by issuing a client's Web browser certificate to the client as follows: the client logs on IHS server by providing his secret logon credentials and an additional PIN for extra secure authentication. The server submits the client-side certificate to the client's Web browser through Web forms or any other means known in the art (e.g. the OpenSSL Library).

In the second example, IHS server can issue a cookie to the client-side terminal in response to the client provisioning this terminal. This cookie can contain the encrypted data from the IHS server which certify that the client has provisioned his terminal through the IHS server.

In the third example, the client-side SSF can be implemented as a proprietary security solution which can be installed on the client's terminal. For example, client-side SSF on Microsoft Windows-like OS can be implemented as the following set of integrated proprietary components:

(a) kernel-mode SSF driver for secure manipulation of secret data; (b) client-side Dashboard UI application for:

-   -   (1) terminal authentication;     -   (2) allowing the client to set the client's status and location;     -   (3) alerting the client with new filtered aggregated data from         the server-side IHS.

Provisioning of Client's Terminal:

A client provisions his terminal by connecting with the server-side IHS through the Web browser using his secret logon, password, and PIN (for extra secure authentication). Server-side IHS transmits to the client's terminal the client-side SSF installation package, which contains the Dashboard UI application and the SSF driver. The SSF driver contains the terminal secret key which is created by the server-side IHS in order to identify the client's terminal, and to optionally use this terminal secret key for encryption of the communications between the terminal and the server-side IHS. The client runs the installation package, and the client-side SSF is configured.

Client-Side Authentication:

FIG. 1 shows block diagram 20 corresponding to the third example of SSF client-side authentication. Each time the client activates his Dashboard UI program 24, the Dashboard UI program 24 automatically connects with the server-side IHS 30. The server-side Authenticator 32 challenges the client-side Dashboard UI program 24 to prove that the client-side Dashboard UI program 24 has access to the terminal secret key 42. This challenge 38 can be based on the challenge-response protocols known in the art. For example, the server-side Authenticator 32 challenges the client-side Dashboard UI program 24 with a random value. The Dashboard UI program 24 requests the SSF driver 28 to compute a response 40, which is based on the terminal secret key 42 and the challenge 38, and returns the computed response 40 to the server-side Authenticator 32. The server-side Authenticator 32 positively authenticates the terminal 22 if the returned client-side response 40 matches the expected value of the response, which server-side Authenticator 32 computes based on its knowledge of the terminal secret key 42 kept in Client's Provisioned Terminals Registry 34.

It should be appreciated that there are many possible arrangements for any of the following: the structure of SSF 20, the division of responsibility between SSF 20 components, and the choice of secure protocols. The provided examples are for illustration purposes only. These examples point to the simple low-cost solutions for SSF 20 based on one of the following: Operating System platform 26, browser platform, or proprietary solution.

Because the IHS server 30 authenticates the provisioned terminal 22, it automatically provides 2-factor security for the clients by authenticating both: the client, and the client's terminal 22. There are many ways of providing third-party partners with 2-factor authentication for the common individual clients. One low-cost way is to use IHS cookies which certify the fact of the client logging on IHS server 30 at a specified time. The third-party will be able to access this cookie, and verify its content using the public key of IHS server 30. This is similar to the Microsoft Passport cookie-based authentication model; however IHS 30 provides enhanced 2-factor security vs. one-factor security in the Passport's model.

Another low-cost way is to use the IHS-based terminal digital certificate, signed by IHS 30, and available to the partnering third parties.

Yet another more secure way is to establish private communications between IHS server 30 and the third party in order for the IHS server 30 to confirm explicitly to the partnering third-party the fact of the client's authentication by IHS server 30.

The terminal secret key 42 can be utilized for encrypting TTUSL communications between the client's terminal and the IHS server 30.

The client-side SSF can include an SSO program. The client-side SSO can utilize the terminal secret key in order to encrypt the secure store with the client's secret credentials, which are used for accessing the provisioned sites, as described in the PIC patent application.

Because IRS already hosts its client's data and authenticates the client and provisioned terminals, IHS is trusted by its clients. Therefore, IHS may include the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service, which serves as the foundation of Trusted Net described below.

The business strategy for IHS as opposed to the existing hosting services (MSN, AOL, Yahoo, etc.) is to sell intelligence, not the bandwidth to the client. One-time cost of implementation of intelligence (client-side and server-side IHS software, server-side IHS CPU and memory) is much lower than the recurring costs of network bandwidth. Therefore, IHS will provide many novel important features at a low cost to its clients.

Persistent Search

Persistent Search for commodities and services was introduced in the PIC patent application. Server, client, and mixed modes of operations of Persistent Search were extensively described in the PIC patent application. Many consumer Internet services, which are presented in this patent application, take advantage of the Persistent Search functionality.

PIC patent application discussed several consumer Internet businesses: persistent search for travel tickets, hotels, car rentals, and other services and commodities. Persistent Search Service (or PSS hereafter) is a pro-consumer service because it is meant to find the best price, offer the best selection of products, and provide a great user experience to consumers.

Some inefficient online vendors and service providers may not be happy with PSS because it would reveal the inefficiencies of their service and would lessen the appeal of their service to customers. Many online vendors and service providers try to constrain their clients to their limited closed systems. However, there is an inherent conflict in their business model: on one hand, they need to retain existing clients and attract new ones; on the other hand, they try to limit consumer's knowledge of the entire market by locking their clients into a single set of services, information, and partners. It is not a viable business option for such online vendors and service providers to completely close their system from consumers, and therefore, it is only a matter of time until the proposed PSS prevails.

The proposed PSS will implement the following business strategy: it will educate consumers about the advantages of open, global, low-cost, automated and convenient PSS vs. closed, limited, high-cost and substantially less automated and less convenient competitive services. PSS will partner with efficient low-cost online businesses which will appreciate customer traffic generated by PSS.

It is expected that less efficient providers of goods and services will have the following options in their relationship with the proposed PSS:

-   (a) extensive partnership with all PSS-supported modes: server,     client, and mixed; -   (b) partnership with server-mode PSS with the condition that the     real identity of the PSS client is revealed by PSS to the providers     of goods and services in PSS server-based search request; -   (c) negotiated partnership agreement with server-mode PSS which     will:     -   (1) limit the periodicity of the persistent search by PSS;     -   (2) limit the distribution of the search results by PSS. -   (d) hostile position and blocking of PSS server-mode search.

PSS will welcome the options (a), (b), and (c) above. PSS will provide client-mode and mixed-mode persistent search services to its clients in the option (d) above. Hostile online vendor or service provider cannot argue against the consumers who utilize the PSS client-mode and mixed-mode services because of the following reasons:

-   (a) online vendor or service provider cannot deny a valid request     regarding their services from a valid consumer; -   (b) the consumer and PSS do not distribute the data which they     receive from the online vendor or service provider.

Details of Mixed Mode of PSS

FIG. 2 shows mixed-mode of PSS 50 in greater detail. PSS Server system 62 facilitates mixed-mode of persistent search for PSS clients as follows. Client A's computer 60, Client B's computer 64, Other Clients' Computers 66, Server system 62, Online Vendor 1 52, Online Vendor 2 54, and Other Online Vendors 56 are connected to the Internet 58.

Clients' computers 60, 64, and 66 receive Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 and Client-side Data for Mixed Mode 72 from the Server system 62 as described in the PIC patent application. Server system 62 hosts Server-side Program for Mixed Mode 76 and Server-side Data for Mixed Mode 78 as described in the PIC patent application. Clients' computers 60, 64, and 66 cache some results of the client-side persistent search in Client-side Cache 68, managed by Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70. Server system 62 caches some results of the persistent search performed by the server system and the client systems in Server-side Cache 74, managed by Server-side Program for Mixed Mode 76.

There are two major types of Online Vendors 52, 54, and 56:

(a) online vendors which are partnering with PSS 50; (b) online vendors which are hostile to PSS 50.

For the partnering vendors (a), depending on the client's choice, PSS 50 will utilize either the Server system 62 or the client system (60, 64, and 66) for issuing the client's search request to the partnering vendors (52, 54, and 56).

For the hostile vendors (b), PSS 50 will utilize Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 of the client system (60, 64, and 66) for issuing the client's search request to the hostile vendors (52, 54, and 56).

Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 may utilize Client-side Cache 68 in order to store the search results. In one example, when PSS 50 is utilized for persistent search for the best price of a commodity or of a service, Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 may store the search results in Client-side Cache 68 for the following functions:

-   (a) for presentation to its client, -   (b) for making a scheduling decision on the timing of the next     search iteration based on the accumulated price trends.

In another example, when PSS 50 is utilized for persistent search for a matching data or a matching partner (e.g., matching for a dating partner), Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 may store the search results in Client-side Cache 68 for the following functions:

-   (a) for presentation to its client, -   (b) for making a scheduling decision on the timing of the next     search iteration based on the accumulated matching trends, -   (c) for keeping track of the client's review of accumulated data:     selected, rejected, and new data.

Depending on the partnering agreements between the provider of PSS 50 and online vendors 52, 54, and 56, server system 62 can be programmed to receive search results from the client systems 60, 64, and 66 in order to cache them in Server-side Cache 74. Server-side Cache 74 can be implemented as a database. Server system 62 caches the search results in order to utilize them for the following functions:

-   (a) making adaptive scheduling decisions regarding the next search     iteration, which may depend on the analysis of the accumulated     search results across all of the server and client systems; -   (b) selecting of the best vendors based on their price and quality     trends; -   (c) advising PSS clients on the best trading strategy with online     vendors (when to trade, and at what price, etc.)

The following is one simple example of the superior service provided by PSS 50. Client A requests a persistent search for Seattle-New York roundtrip at the limit price $300. Client B requests a persistent search for Seattle-New York roundtrip at the limit price $310 for the same dates as client A. PSS 50 schedules mixed-mode persistent search for Seattle-New York roundtrip using client's B computer 64. When client B's Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 finds an offer from one of the online vendors (for example, vendor 54 offers a roundtrip fare for $299), Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70 updates Server system 62. Server system 62 sends an alert to client A regarding a possible opportunity with vendor 54. This alert can be done through communication between Server-side Program for Mixed Mode 76 and client's A Client-side Program for Mixed Mode 70, or by Server system 62 alerting client A through Instant Messaging, phone, or email.

PSS 50 can be implemented as a single computer-based system or as a distributed system. All of is the following computer system topologies will be supported by PSS 50:

-   (a) client-side computer system (60, 64, 66, etc.); -   (b) server-side computer system 62; -   (c) client-server system which includes one client-side computer     system (for example, system 60) and server-side computer system 62; -   (d) peer-to-peer system which includes at least two of the     client-side computer systems (for example, 60 and 64); -   (e) multiclient-server system which includes at least two of the     client-side computer systems and server-side computer system 62.

PSS 50 will support the following search execution modes:

(a) real-time interactive mode; (b) persistent search mode.

In the real-time interactive mode the client will start a search and will see search results in real time at the client's terminal. The client will be able to modify his/her search request, start/stop the search, view the search results, select and approve the desired transaction.

In the persistent search mode the search will be repeated periodically until the acceptable search result, which matches the client's search request, is found or until the client stops the search.

PSS 50 will support the following search notification modes regarding the search results:

-   (a) alert on the client computer; -   (b) email notification; -   (c) Short Messaging Service (SMS) notification; -   (d) Instant Messaging (IM) notification; -   (e) telephone voice message notification; -   (f) any other multimedia notification including any combination of     the above types of notifications.

PSS 50 will also allow the client to preview search results, to select and approve any desired transaction from any client's terminal which is connected to the Internet, PSTN, or any other network.

For example, the client may utilize PSS 50 in persistent search mode of multiclient-server system, which includes the following systems:

(a) the client's personal computer (PC) 60 which performs the search; (b) the server system 62; (c) the client's mobile IP phone which the client always carries with him.

The client sets his search goals using the search user interface of PSS 50 on. PC 60, and he requests an SMS notification regarding search results to be sent to his mobile IP phone by specifying the SMS address of his mobile IP phone in the search user interface of PSS 50.

After performing one or more periodic searches, the search program on the client's PC 60 finds the acceptable search result. In one embodiment, PC 60 sends a digital message containing the search result to the server system 62. The server system 62 performs the following functions:

-   -   stores the context of the search result;     -   prepares a Web page with the HTML user interface which shows the         search results and allows the client to select and approve the         desired transaction by providing the “Approve” HTML button (or         any other similar HTML control element);     -   prepares a URL which points to the prepared Web page above;     -   sends an SMS notification with the prepared URL above to the         client's mobile IP phone.

The client receives the SMS notification on his mobile IP phone. By clicking on the URL indicated in the SMS message, he connects to the URL, which is managed by the server system 62, through his mobile IP phone's Internet browser. The browser displays the Web page identified by this URL with detailed search results and the HTML “Approve” button. If the client is satisfied with the proposed transaction, he approves the transaction by pressing this HTML “Approve” button. The server system 62 gets the corresponding command from the client's mobile IP phone's Internet browser and completes the transaction. The transaction could be completed by either the server system 62 or the client's PC 60. For example, the server system 62 can connect to the corresponding online vendor (e.g. 52) and complete the transaction, or the server system 62 can request the client's PC 60 to connect to the corresponding online vendor (e.g. 52) and complete the transaction. This example also demonstrates how the client can use a constrained device, such as his mobile IP phone, in order to remotely control PSS 50. The client's mobile IP phone has much less processing power, memory, and network bandwidth than the server system 62 and the client PC 60, but it allows the client to get real-time notification regarding successful search results and to complete the transaction from any location.

Depending on the type of search application and the security preferences of the client, the client may prefer different security settings for different devices and services. For example, the client may prefer to have a single sign on (SSO) system on his/her trusted terminals, such as home PC, and the client may also prefer to have strict authentication requirements for his/her mobile phone which could be lost or stolen. Therefore, in the above example of using the mobile IP phone for remotely controlling PSS 50, the client may want to require strict personal authentication in order to view the search results and/or to complete the transaction. One way to achieve such strict personal authentication is for the server system 62 to request the client to provide his/her user name and password in order to access the URL with the search results and “Approve” button above.

The selection of search execution mode and notification mode will depend on the following factors:

-   (a) location of the client; -   (b) amount of required data processing resources and network     resources for the search application; -   (c) fees paid for the offered search and notification modes of a     particular search application; -   (d) the client's preferences.

The server-based (e.g., server-side, client-server, multiclient-server) search and notification modes could be desirable due to the following factors:

-   (a) Server system 62 can keep a global profile of the client and     client's search contexts, which allows the client to utilize PSS 50     from any device; -   (b) Server-based search can utilize significant amount of data     processing, storage, caching, and network resources of the server     system 62; -   (c) Server system 62 can support parallel search operations based on     multiple computer systems, fast network access, and large cache of     accumulated search results, which can reduce the search time; -   (d) Server system 62 can support multiple transports: email, voice     gateways, IM gateways, etc., which provides the best connectivity     with the client.

The client-based (client-side, peer-to-peer, client-server, multiclient-server) search and notification modes could be desirable due to the following factors:

-   (a) the fees paid for the client-based search service could be less     than the fees paid for the server-based search service because the     client-based search service will cost less to the provider of PSS     50; -   (b) client-based search service can not be blocked by online vendors     52, 54, and 56.

All of the presented modes of persistent search, and the presented PSS business models are applicable to the following proposed services: REPS, CPS, CLPS, PSP, DPS, SIMPS, CPIOS, and RSCPS.

Technical Details of Web Programming Interfaces

There are many ways to implement a persistent search computer program. PIC patent application broadly described possible implementations. Below are some additional technical details regarding Web services interface for the server-mode, client-mode and mixed-mode of PSS. The persistent search computer program needs to interface with multiple online vendors in order to submit its search requests to the online vendors' servers. The online vendors provide Web server services, and they support standard Web browser connections from the search requestor's side. The persistent search computer program automates the user's Web-based interaction with each online vendor by implementing the following actions:

(a) requesting the predefined Web page from the online vendor's server; (b) filling out the requested Web form and submitting it to the online vendor's server.

The actions listed above can be implemented in many ways. The persistent search computer program can utilize the following well-known technologies for interacting with the online vendor's server-side system:

(a) HTTP interface; (b) Web browser controls; (c) sockets interface; (d) any other programmatic client-server techniques.

Persistent search computer program can be implemented on Java platform, provided by Sun Microsystems. Java.net package provides powerful and flexible infrastructure for networking. It provides the URL class which supports simple interface to any local or remote URL object. At a higher level, the URLConnection object can be obtained from the URL object. HttpURLConnection class is the specialization of the URLConnection which supports the HTTP interface.

For example, the following Java code can be utilized by the persistent search program to automatically fill out the requested form with values Value1 and Value2, and to submit this form to the online vendor's service-side URL http://www.online_server_url using the HTTP POST method:

HttpConnection conn=(HttpConnection) Connector.open(“http://www.online_server_url”); byte [ ] data=“TextField1=Value1&TextField2=Value2&Submit=Submit”.getBytes ( ) conn.setMethod (HttpConnection.POST); conn.setRequestProperty(“User-Agent”, “Profile/MIDP-1.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.0”); conn.setRequestProperty(“Content-Language”, “en-US”); conn.setRequestProperty(“Content-Type”, “application/x-www-form-urlencoded”); OutputStream ostream=conn.openOutputStream ( ); ostream.write (data); ostream.close ( ); conn.close ( );

Persistent search computer program can also be implemented on the Windows platforms, provided by Microsoft. Windows SDK (Software Development Kit) supports the client-server Web services on every level: sockets, HTTP, Web browser controls, etc.

For example, the following C++ code can be utilized by the persistent search computer program to create the instance of the Web browser, and to control the Web browser using the IWebBrowserApp interface, provided by Microsoft:

-   HRESULT hr; -   BSTR bstrURL; -   VARIANT vFlags, vTargetFrameName, vPostData, vHeaders; -   IWebBrowserApp* pWBApp=NULL; -   hr=CoCreateInstance(CLSID_InternetExplorer, NULL, CLSCTX_SERVER,     IID_IWebBrowserApp, (LPVOID*)&pWBApp)); -   hr=pWBApp->Navigate(bstrURL, &vFlags, &vTargetFrameName, &vPostData,     &vHeaders);

The Navigate method of the IWebBrowserApp interface above is used to navigate the Web browser to the bstrURL location and to optionally submit the Web form data to the Web server by filling out the parameters of the Navigate method.

The above examples were provided for illustration purposes only, and changes may be made in detail, yet remain within the broad principles of the presented invention. For example, PSS can utilize the following techniques:

-   (a) PSS can direct any available consenting client's computer system     to perform persistent search on behalf of a different client; -   (b) PSS can distribute persistent search processing across any     available consenting client's computer systems in order to speed up     the search, and to balance the work load; -   (c) PSS can encrypt communications between PSS server-side and     client-side computer programs in order to protect the following: PSS     implementation details, private data of PSS clients, and pricing     data of online vendors; -   (d) PSS can implement a wide range of service payment methods: from     subscription to transaction-based payment. In the transaction-based     payment, PSS can request its client to pay for the persistent search     results after the client has previewed a subset of the data in the     search results, and before the client gets all the details of the     found search results, etc.

Real Estate Portal

The proposed Real Estate Portal Service (REPS) offers the following benefits to its customers:

(a) single point of access to all relevant real estate services and data for the buyers; (b) single point of access to all relevant real estate services and data for the sellers; (c) money-saving and time-saving services for all types of buyers and sellers:

-   -   (1) connecting buyers and sellers directly, which is desired by         the buyers and sellers who prefer to save money on real estate         commissions;     -   (2) providing buyers with novel Persistent Search for Real         Estate Properties in order to find a matching property based on         the buyer's search parameters, and automatically notifying         buyers when a matching property is listed by a seller;     -   (3) providing sellers with novel Persistent Search for Buyers in         order to find the registered buyers who have a matching property         search profile, and automatically notifying sellers when a         matching property profile is listed by a buyer;     -   (4) providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Real         Estate Properties service, which:         -   i. saves buyers' time by searching for matching properties             through online real estate properties listings of multiple             service providers, and         -   ii. saves buyer's money by searching for real estate             properties listings in the following order: “for sale by             owner” listings, low-commissions real estate listings,             standard commissions listings;     -   (5) providing sellers with a novel Aggregated Search for Buyer         Listings service, which:         -   i. saves sellers' time by searching for matching wanted             properties profiles through the online real estate buyer             listings of multiple service providers, and         -   ii. saves sellers' money by searching for wanted real estate             properties profiles in the following order: “direct buy”             listings, low-commissions real estate listings, standard             commissions listings;     -   (6) providing proprietary low-cost directories for real estate         buyers and sellers;     -   (7) referring prescreened sale agents to the sellers who want         the assistance of an agent in selling their property;     -   (8) referring prescreened buyer agents to the buyers who want         the assistance of a buyer agent;     -   (9) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and sellers         on demand, in order to create a safe trading environment for         consumers;     -   (10) providing powerful visualization tools for the following         functions: describing properties, comparing the selected         properties, providing photographs and virtual tours of         properties, providing other relevant data, including utility         bills data, previous home inspections reports, etc.

FIG. 3 shows the block diagram of REPS 80. REPS 80 consists of the following services:

Web UI 88, Persistent Search for Real Estate Properties 86, Persistent Search for Buyers 90, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties 92, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94, Proprietary Real Estate Properties Listing Service 104, Proprietary Real Estate Buyer Listing Service 110, Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Referral Services for prescreened real estate agents 100, Referral Services for prescreened inspectors, lawyers, and other professionals 102, Other Parties' Real Estate Properties Listing Services 106, and Other Parties' Real Estate Buyer Listing Services 108.

Clients can use REPS services 80 in the following ways:

-   (a) buyers and sellers can utilize Web UI 88 to manually search for     each other, to find prescreened buyers and sellers agents, to search     for mortgage loans, to apply for prescreening, evaluate properties,     to find prescreened home inspectors, and to perform all other     relevant real estate trading functions; -   (b) buyers can utilize Persistent Search for Real Estate Properties     86; -   (c) sellers can utilize Persistent Search for Buyers 90.

REPS Proprietary Real Estate Properties Listing Service 104 and Proprietary Real Estate Buyer Listing Service 110 are designed to promote direct real estate sale between individuals. Clients will pay a fee to be listed with REPS 80. Buyers will be able to buy properties at lower prices, if they buy directly from sellers.

REPS 80 will offer a wide range of services for buyers. REPS Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 allows buyers to view all of the properties listed by MLS (Multiple Listing Service), by REPS Proprietary Real Estate Properties Listings 104, and by numerous other real estate sale directories 106. The client will direct REPS 80 regarding the client's goal, which can range from buying directly from an owner to connecting with a full service agent.

For buyers who want to save money on real estate commissions, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 will give preference to the listings of providers which promote direct sale by owner, such as REPS Proprietary Real Estate Properties Listings 104. If none of the direct sale providers has a matching listing, then REPS Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 will look at all other listings, including MLS, which will require paying agent's commissions. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function: from the direct “sale by owner” real estate listings to the low-commissions real estate listings to the standard-commissions real estate listings.

REPS Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties service 92 will save time for buyers by performing automatic periodic search through multiple service providers' listings, as opposed to manual multiple searches of service providers' listings performed today.

REPS 80 will offer a wide range of services for the sellers. REPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 allows the sellers to view all of the wanted properties profiles listed by numerous real estate buyers' directories 110, 108. The client will direct REPS 80 regarding the client's goal, which can range from selling directly by an owner to connecting with a full service agent.

For sellers who want to save money on the estate commissions, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 will give preference to the listings of providers which promote “direct buy” from owner, such as REPS Proprietary Real Estate Buyer Listings 110. If none of the “direct buy” providers has a matching listing, then REPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 will look at all other listings which will require paying agent's commissions. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function: from the “direct buy from owner” real estate buyer listings to the low-commissions real estate buyer listings to the standard-commissions real estate buyer listings.

REPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 94 will save time for sellers by performing automatic periodic search through multiple service providers' buyer listings, as opposed to manual multiple searches of service providers' buyer listings performed today.

Many real estate sellers are concerned with personal safety and property protection when selling their real estate. They are concerned about showing their property to a stranger. Some real estate buyers are concerned about visiting a property, owned by a stranger without an accompanying third party, such as an agent. REPS 80 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service (CPIOS) 98 to its clients. Sellers can request that prospective buyers undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) pre-approved home loan by a bank, which indicates good credit     history of the buyer; -   (b) no criminal record of the buyer; -   (c) good credit history of the buyer; -   (d) good employment record of the buyer; -   (e) personal references of the buyer; -   (f) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the buyer     through any of the integrated PIC services.

Buyers can request that prospective sellers undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) no criminal record of the seller; -   (b) verification of the seller's claim to ownership of the property; -   (c) good employment record of the seller; -   (d) personal references of the seller; -   (e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the seller     through any of the integrated PIC services.

Many buyers and sellers who have the time to engage in a process of direct sale by the owner, and who currently hire a real estate agent to handle the showing of the property because they are concerned with personal safety, will appreciate the proposed CPIOS 98. In addition to prescreening, the proposed CPIOS 98 will provide on-demand service for its clients allowing them to register the date, time, and place of a scheduled meeting with a trading partner in order to discourage anyone with ill intentions from using REPS 80.

There are several online real estate trading services for consumers. However, these services do not provide the desired money-saving, time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.

REPS Vs. Forsalebyowner.com

Forsalebyowner.com promotes direct sale of real estate by owner. REPS 80 offers the following advantages over Forsalebyowner.com:

-   (a) Persistent Search for Real Estate Properties 86; -   (b) Persistent Search for Buyers 90; -   (c) Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties 92; -   (d) Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94; -   (e) Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations     98; -   (f) One-stop portal 80 for all types of buyers and sellers which     provides direct trade services to those interested in saving on     commissions, as well as referrals for all types of prescreened agent     services to those who need any amount of professional real estate     assistance.     REPS vs. Ziprealty.com

Ziprealty.com promotes efficient buyer-driven real estate trading method through its real estate agents. REPS 80 offers the following advantages over Ziprealty.com:

-   (a) Direct sale of real estate by owner through Proprietary Real     Estate Properties Listing Service 104, Proprietary Real Estate Buyer     Listing Service 110, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties     92, and Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94; -   (b) Persistent Search for Buyers 90; -   (c) Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations     98; -   (d) One-stop portal 80 for all types of buyers and sellers beyond     the real estate agent-based services.     REPS Vs. Homegain.com

Homegain.com promotes itself as a real estate portal. However, Homegain.com does not support the most important money-saving method—direct sale of real estate by owner. REPS 80 offers the following advantages over Homegain.com:

-   (a) Direct sale of real estate by owner through Proprietary Real     Estate Properties Listing Service 104, Proprietary Real Estate Buyer     Listing Service 110, Aggregated Search for Real Estate Properties     92, and Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 94; -   (b) Persistent Search for Buyers 90; -   (c) Persistent Search for Real Estate Properties 86; -   (d) Certification and Prescreening of individuals and organizations     98; -   (e) One-stop portal 80 for all types of buyers and sellers beyond     the real estate agent-based services.

The integrated portal concept of REPS 80 will bring together sellers and buyers through REPS 80, because REPS 80 will provide a one-stop integrated real estate service designed to save time and money, and to provide security and convenience to its clients. REPS 80 provides built-in intelligence by automating the search process, by aggregating search results of multiple providers of buyers and sellers listings, by directing the search according to the client-specific goal, and by providing a complete spectrum of services from direct sale by owner to on-demand selected professional services (e.g. lawyers, appraisers, advisors, inspectors) to full-service agent-based real estate sale.

Cars Portal

The proposed Cars Portal Service (or CPS hereafter) offers the following benefits for its customers:

(a) a single point of access to all relevant car sale ads, services, and data for the buyers; (b) a single point of access to all relevant car search ads, services, and data for the sellers; (c) money-saving and time-saving services for all types of buyers and sellers:

-   -   (1) connecting buyers and sellers directly, which is desired by         the buyers and sellers who prefer to save money on dealer's         commissions;     -   (2) providing buyers with novel Persistent Search for Cars in         order to find a matching car based on the buyers' search         parameters, and automatically notifying buyers when a matching         car is listed by a seller;     -   (3) providing sellers with a novel Persistent Search for Buyers         in order to find the registered buyers who have a matching car         search profile, and automatically notifying sellers when a         matching car profile is listed by a buyer;     -   (4) providing buyers with a novel Aggregated Search for Cars         service, which:         -   i. saves buyers' time by searching for matching cars through             online car listings of multiple service providers, and         -   ii. saves buyer's money by searching for the car listings in             the following order: “for sale by owner” listings, car             dealer sale listings;     -   (5) providing sellers with a novel Aggregated Search for Buyer         Listings service, which:         -   i. saves sellers' time by searching for matching “wanted             cars” profiles through the online car buyer listings of             multiple service providers, and         -   ii. saves sellers' money by searching for the “wanted cars”             listings in the following order: “direct buy from owner”             listings, low-commissions car dealer buy listings, standard             commissions car dealer buy listings;     -   (6) providing proprietary low-cost directories for car buyers         and sellers;     -   (7) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and sellers         on demand, in order to create a safe trading environment for         consumers;     -   (8) referring the prescreened dealers, inspectors, loan         providers, etc., to the clients who want professional         assistance;     -   (9) providing powerful visualization tools for the following         functions: describing cars, comparing the selected cars,         providing photographs and virtual tours of cars, providing gas         mileage information, available maintenance records, and any         other relevant market data.

FIG. 4 shows the block diagram of CPS 140. CPS 140 consists of the following services: Web UI 148, Persistent Search for Cars 146, Persistent Search for Buyers 150, Aggregated Search for Cars 152, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 154, Proprietary Car Sale Listing Service 164, Proprietary Car Buyer Listing Service 170, Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Referral Services for prescreened dealers 160, Referral Services for prescreened inspectors, loan providers, and other professionals 162, Other Parties' Car Sale Listing Services 166, and Other Parties' Car Buyer Listing Services 168.

Clients can use CPS services 140 as follows:

-   (a) buyers and sellers can utilize Web UI 148 to manually search for     car sale and wanted ads, to find prescreened dealers, to search for     financing, to apply for prescreening, to evaluate the cars, and to     perform all other relevant car trading functions; -   (b) buyers can utilize Persistent Search for Cars 146; -   (c) sellers can utilize Persistent Search for Buyers 150.

CPS Proprietary Car Sale Listing Service 164 and Proprietary Car Buyer Listing Service 170 are designed to promote direct car sale between the individuals. Clients will pay a fee to be listed with CPS 140. Buyers will be able to purchase cars at lower prices if they buy directly from the sellers.

CPS 140 will offer a wide range of services for buyers. CPS Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 allows the buyers to view all of the cars listed by multiple service providers 164, 166. The client will direct CPS 140 regarding the client's goal, which can range from buying directly from an owner to connecting with a full service dealer.

For buyers who want to save money on car dealer markup, Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 will give preference to the listings of providers which promote direct sale by owner, such as CPS Proprietary Car Sale Listings 164. If none of the direct sale providers has a matching listing, then Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 will look at all other listings which will include the car dealer's listings. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function: from the direct “sale by owner” car listings to the car dealer's listings.

CPS Aggregated Search for Cars service 152 will save buyer's time by performing automatic periodic search through multiple providers of car sale listings, as opposed to multiple manual searches of multiple providers of car sale listings performed today.

CPS 140 will offer a wide range of services for sellers. CPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 allows the sellers to view all of the wanted cars profiles listed in multiple car buyers' directories 168, 170. The client will direct REPS 80 regarding the client's goal, which can range from selling directly by owner to connecting with a full service dealer.

For sellers who want to save money on car dealer commissions, Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 will give preference to the listings of providers which promote “direct buy” from the owner, such as CPS Proprietary Car Buyer Listings 170. If none of the “direct buy” providers has a matching listing, then CPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 will look at all other listings which will require paying dealer's commissions. Therefore, the Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 provides not only a novel aggregated persistent search function, but it also provides a novel ordered search function: from the “direct buy from owner” car buyer listings to the low-commissions car buyer listings to the standard-commissions car dealer buyer listings.

CPS Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings service 154 will save time for sellers by performing automatic periodic search through multiple service providers' buyer listings, as opposed to manual multiple searches of service providers' buyer listings performed today.

Many car sellers are concerned with their personal safety and car protection when selling their cars. They are concerned about showing their car to a stranger. Some car buyers are concerned about meeting a stranger who claims to own a car. CPS 140 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98 to its clients. Sellers can request that prospective buyers undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) pre-approved car loan by a bank, which indicates good credit     history of the buyer; -   (b) no criminal record of the buyer; -   (c) good credit history of the buyer; -   (d) good employment record of the buyer; -   (e) personal references of the buyer; -   (f) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the buyer     through any of the integrated PIC services.

Buyers can request that prospective sellers undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) no criminal record of the seller; -   (b) verification of seller's title on the car; -   (c) good employment record of the seller; -   (d) personal references of the seller; -   (e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the seller     through any of the integrated PIC services.

Many buyers and sellers who have the time to engage in a process of direct sale by owner, and who currently hire a dealer to handle the showing of the car because they are concerned with personal safety and car protection, will appreciate the proposed CPIOS 98. In addition to prescreening, CPIOS 98 will provide on-demand service for its clients to register the date, time and place of a scheduled meeting with a trading partner in order to discourage anyone with ill intentions from using CPS 140.

There are several online car trading services for consumers. However, these services do not provide the desired money-saving, time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.

REPS vs. Autobytel.com

Autobytel.com promotes buying cars through dealers. CPS 140 offers direct sale of cars by owner through Proprietary Car Sale Listing Service 164, Proprietary Car Buyer Listing Service 170, Aggregated Search for Cars 152, and Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 154.

REPS vs. CarsDirect.com or eBay Motors

CarsDirect.com and eBay Motors offer direct sale by owner. However, CPS 140 offers the following advantages over these services:

-   (a) Persistent Search for Buyers 150; -   (b) Certification and Prescreening of buyers and sellers 98; -   (c) Aggregated Search for Cars 152; -   (d) Aggregated Search for Buyer Listings 154; -   (e) One-stop portal 140 for all types of buyers and sellers beyond     the direct sale of cars by owner, including referrals of prescreened     dealers.

The integrated portal concept of CPS 140 will bring together sellers and buyers through CPS 140, because CPS 140 will provide a one-stop integrated car trading service designed to save time and money, and to provide security and convenience to its clients. CPS 140 provides built-in intelligence by automating search process, by aggregating the search results of multiple providers of buyers and sellers listings, by directing the search according to the client-specific goal, and by providing a complete spectrum of services from direct sale by owner to on-demand selected professional services (e.g. appraisers, lenders, and inspectors) to full-service dealers.

Classifieds Portal

The proposed Classifieds Portal Service (or CLPS hereafter) offers the following benefits to its customers:

(a) a single point of access to all relevant ads for clients performing the search; (b) money-saving and time-saving services for all users of classified services:

-   -   (1) providing novel Persistent Search services for buyers and         renters in order to find ads for the desired item based on the         buyer's or renter's search parameters, and automatically         notifying the buyer or the renter when a matching ad is found;     -   (2) providing novel Persistent Search services for sellers or         lessors in order to find the to listed buyers or renters who are         looking for the item offered by the seller or lessor, and         automatically notifying the seller or lessor when a matching ad         is found;     -   (3) providing novel Persistent Search services for the         prospective roommates in order to find the matching ads for room         sharing based on the search parameters of each potential         roommate, and automatically notifying the search initiator when         a matching ad is found;     -   (4) providing novel Aggregated Search services which search for         the matching ads through numerous online listings of multiple         providers of classifieds;     -   (5) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers, sellers,         renters, lessors, and roommates on demand in order to create a         safe trading environment for consumers;     -   (6) providing powerful visualization tools for the following         functions: describing the advertised items, comparing the         selected advertised items, providing photographs and virtual         tours of advertised items, providing any other relevant market         data.

FIG. 5 shows the block diagram of CLPS 210. CLPS 210 consists of the following services: Web UI 214, Persistent Search for Sellers 216, Persistent Search for Buyers 218, Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings 222, Proprietary Classifieds Listing Service for Sellers and Buyers 224, Proprietary Referral Service 230, and Other Providers Classifieds Listings Services 226. For the sake of clarity, FIG. 5 does not show separate blocks for Persistent Search for renters, lessors, or roommates. However, it should be understood that persistent search for renters is implemented similarly to the Persistent Search for Buyers 218; persistent search for lessors is implemented similarly to the Persistent Search for Sellers 216; and persistent search for roommates is implemented similarly to both, Persistent Search for Sellers 216 and Persistent Search for Buyers 218.

Clients can use CLPS services 210 as follows:

-   (a) buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and prospective roommates can     utilize Web UI 214 to manually search for the desired classifieds,     to apply for prescreening, to evaluate the advertised items, and to     perform all other relevant classifieds functions; -   (b) buyers, renters, and prospective roommates can utilize     Persistent Search 216 to automatically find matching “for sale”,     “for rent” and “room for sharing” ads; -   (c) sellers, lessors, and individuals offering to share a room can     utilize Persistent Search 218 to automatically locate “wanted” ads     placed by matching buyers, and renters.

CLPS Proprietary Classifieds Listing Service for Sellers and Buyers 224 are designed to promote low-cost direct trade between the individuals. Clients will pay a fee to be listed with CLPS 210. CLPS Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings service 222 will save clients' time by performing automatic periodic search through listings of multiple providers of classifieds, as opposed to multiple manual searches of multiple providers of classifieds performed today. Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings service 222 will save money for clients by trying to find a match in CLPS Proprietary Classifieds Listings 224 and in the listings of other providers which promote direct sale by owner.

Many sellers and lessors are concerned with personal safety and property protection when selling their possessions, leasing their property, or advertising room sharing to strangers. Many buyers, renters, and prospective roommates are concerned about meeting a stranger who claims to own the desired item or a property without an accompanying third party. CLPS 210 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations service 98 to its clients. Sellers, lessors, and individuals offering rooms to share can request that prospective buyers, renters or prospective roommates undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) no criminal record of the buyer, renter, or prospective     roommate; -   (b) good credit history of the buyer, renter, or prospective     roommate; -   (c) good employment record of the buyer, renter, or prospective     roommate; -   (d) personal references of the buyer, renter, or prospective     roommate; -   (e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the buyer,     renter, or prospective roommate through any of the integrated PIC     services.

Buyers, renters, or prospective roommates can request that prospective sellers, lessors or individuals offering room sharing undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) no criminal record of the seller, lessor or individual offering     room sharing; -   (b) verification of the seller's title on the sold or rented item     when applicable; -   (c) good employment record of the seller, lessor or individual     offering room sharing; -   (d) personal references of the seller, lessor or individual offering     room sharing; -   (e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the seller,     lessor or individual offering room sharing through any of the     integrated PIC services.

In addition to prescreening, the proposed CPIOS 98 will provide on-demand service for its clients allowing them to register the date, time and place of a scheduled meeting with the trading partner in order to prevent any potential crime.

Proprietary Referral Service 230 refers CLPS clients 212 to the partnering providers of services in the category, which corresponds to the classified category of client's search. It provides the clients 212 with useful additional data and services, and it creates an additional revenue opportunity for CLPS 210 by charging the partnering providers of services the referral and/or advertisement fees.

There are several online classifieds services for consumers. However, these services do not provide the desired money-saving, time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.

REPS vs. Newspaper Classifieds

Newspaper classifieds are very popular, and many of them have Internet presence. CLPS 210 offers the following advantages over these services:

(a) Persistent Search for Sellers, lessors, and prospective roommates 216; (b) Persistent Search for Buyers and renters 218; (c) Certification and Prescreening of buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and roommates 98;

(d) Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings 222.

REPS vs. Yahoo Classifieds

Yahoo classifieds are also very popular. CLPS 210 offers the following advantages over Yahoo classifieds:

(a) Aggregated Search for Classifieds Listings 222;

(b) Certification and Prescreening of buyers, sellers, renters, lessors, and roommates 98.

Professional Services Portal

The proposed Professional Services Portal (or PSP hereafter) offers the following benefits for its customers:

-   (a) a single point of access to all relevant service providers for     buyers of professional services; -   (b) providing all relevant project and buyers data to professional     service providers; -   (c) providing money-saving and time-saving services for all types of     buyers and professional service providers:     -   (1) providing buyers with novel Persistent Search for Service         Providers in order to find service providers based on the         buyers' search parameters;     -   (2) providing alerts for service providers when a buyer posts a         new project which matches the service provider's profile;     -   (3) providing buyers with novel Aggregated Search for Service         Providers Listings which looks for matching service providers         through multiple online listings of multiple professional         service providers directories;     -   (4) providing service providers with novel Persistent Search for         Projects Service in order to find posted projects based on the         service providers' search parameters;     -   (5) providing service providers with novel Aggregated Search for         Projects Service Listings which searches for matching projects         and buyers through multiple online listings of multiple         professional projects directories;     -   (6) providing optional novel prescreening for buyers and service         providers on demand, in order to create a safe trading         environment for clients;     -   (7) providing a proprietary low-cost directory of service         providers;     -   (8) providing a proprietary low-cost (or free) directory of         buyers of professional services;     -   (9) providing a proprietary low-cost (or free) directory of         professional projects;     -   (10) providing proprietary bidding system hosting for buyers;     -   (11) providing proprietary bidding system software for the         buyers who prefer to host the bidding process themselves;     -   (12) providing powerful tools for the following functions:         describing buyers, service providers, and projects; comparing         between selected service providers; comparing between selected         buyers; comparing between selected projects; providing any other         relevant market data.

FIG. 6 shows the block diagram of PSP 270. PSP 270 consists of the following services: Web UI 276, Persistent Search for Service Providers 278, Persistent Search for Projects 280, Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings 282, Aggregated Search for Projects Listings 286, Proprietary Service Providers Listing Service 292, Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing Service 300, Proprietary Bidding System Hosting 288, Proprietary Bidding Software 290, Other Parties Service Providers Listing Services 294, Other Parties Projects and Buyers Listing Services 298, and Other Parties Professional Services Directories 296.

Clients can use PSP services 270 as follows:

-   (a) buyers 272 and professional service providers 274 can utilize     Web UI 276 to manually search for each other, to apply for     prescreening, and to perform all other relevant professional     services trading functions; -   (b) buyers 272 can utilize Persistent Search for Service Providers     278 to search for the desired professional service providers; -   (c) service providers 274 can utilize Persistent Search for Projects     280 to search for the desired projects and for buyers of     professional services.

PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listing Service 292 and PSP Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing Service 300 are designed to promote direct trade between buyers and professional service providers. Service providers will pay a fee to be listed with PSP 270. Buyers can describe the type of project they are offering, and PSP 270 will try to find matching service providers.

PSP 270 will offer a wide range of services to buyers. Buyers can utilize PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listing Service 292 to locate any listed service provider, to get all the data about the service provider including its claimed and verified credentials, the type of projects done by the service provider, feedback from other parties, etc. Buyers can communicate with listed service providers directly, make an offer, and negotiate a deal.

A buyer may want to save money by soliciting multiple bids from the selected service providers. PSP 270 will host a Proprietary Bidding System service 288, which will allow real-time bidding by multiple service providers.

In case a buyer wants to host the bidding process, PSP 270 will license Proprietary Bidding Software 290 to such buyer.

It is expected that for simple projects, such as plumbing, babysitting, etc., buyers will request PSP 270 to locate the service provider based on the buyers' search criteria. For complex and expensive projects, the buyer may want to utilize the Proprietary Bidding System Hosting service 288 or Proprietary Bidding Software 290.

PSP Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings service 282 allows the buyers to view all of the service providers listed by PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listing Service 292 and by other sites and directories 294, 296. Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings service 282 will save money for buyers by finding matches in PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listings 292 and in other directories containing low-cost reliable service providers.

PSP Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings service 282 will save time for buyers by performing automatic periodic search through multiple directories, as opposed to multiple manual searches of multiple directories performed today.

PSP 270 will offer a wide range of services for service providers. A service provider can utilize PSP Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing Service 300 to locate any listed project, to get all the data about the buyer including its claimed and verified credentials, feedback from other parties, etc. Service providers may bid for posted projects.

PSP Aggregated Search for Projects Listings service 286 allows service providers to view all of the projects listed by PSP Proprietary Projects and Buyers Listing Service 300 and by other sites and directories 298, 296. The Aggregated Search for Projects Listings service 286 will make money for the service providers by finding attractive projects in PSP Proprietary Service Providers Listings 300 and in the other directories containing projects from reliable buyers. PSP Aggregated Search for Projects Listings service 286 will save time for service providers by performing automatic periodic search through multiple directories, as opposed to multiple manual searches of multiple directories performed today.

Many buyers are concerned about dealing with a relatively unknown service provider. Many service providers are concerned about dealing with a relatively unknown buyer. PSP 270 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations service 98 to its clients, described below.

PSP 270 offers the best price/performance among the online professional services portals, because it addresses the key interests of both: the buyers and the service providers. The buyers have the following key goals:

-   (a) the widest selection of service providers; -   (b) utilization of bidding system for complex or expensive projects; -   (c) low-cost of the professional services portal even if the service     provider pays the fee (because the service provider which pays a     lower portal fee will be able to lower its bid); -   (d) trusted trading environment.

PSP 270 will satisfy the buyer's goals by:

(a) providing an aggregated persistent search in multiple service providers directories; (b) facilitating bidding; (c) providing a flexible low-cost portal; (d) providing necessary prescreening and security.

The service providers have the following key goals:

(a) the widest selection of buyers; (b) low-cost of the professional services portal; (c) direct relationship with the buyer; (d) trusted trading environment.

PSP 270 will satisfy the service provider's goals by:

-   (a) providing the best low-cost (or free) service for buyers, which     will attract a large number of buyers; -   (b) providing aggregated persistent search in multiple projects     directories; -   (c) providing a flexible low-cost portal; -   (d) providing direct relationship between the buyer and the service     provider; -   (e) providing the necessary prescreening and security.

There are several online professional services. However, these services do not provide the desired money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.

PSP vs. eLance.com

eLance.com is one of the top online freelance services. PSP 270 offers the following advantages over eLance.com:

-   (a) Aggregated Search for Service Providers Listings 282; -   (b) Aggregated Search for Projects Listings services 286; -   (c) a wide range of services: from directory-based search for     professional service providers to hosting of bidding services; -   (d) inclusion of low-tech service providers, such as: plumbers,     painters, babysitters, etc. -   (e) one-stop portal 270 for all types of services: from simple     low-tech local services to complex high-tech global services.

eLance.com charges its service provider clients a steep fee: at least $120 per quarter and 8.75% commissions from every project. It is unreasonable for the service provider to pay the commissions on every transaction on top of the listing fee. PSP 270 will be a much more efficient provider, because it will charge only for the actual functionality which is desired by the client. PSP 270 will offer the most basic components: directory, bidding system, aggregation, security, and persistent search. Depending on the client's request, PSP 270 will integrate the above listed components into a minimal sufficient service set, and it will bill the client for this minimal service set of utilized components. For example, in many cases the service provider only needs to be listed in a service provider's directory. In these cases only the listing fee will be charged by PSP 270.

Dating Portal

The proposed Dating Portal Service (or DPS hereafter) offers the following benefits to its customers:

-   (a) a single point of access to all relevant dating data and     services for the clients; -   (b) money-saving and time-saving services for all clients:     -   (1) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         by providing novel aggregated search services, which         automatically search for the matching partner through multiple         online listings of numerous dating service providers;     -   (2) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         and saving client's time by performing novel Persistent Two-way         Search across numerous providers of dating services;     -   (3) providing the best price/performance dating service for the         clients by performing the novel search for a partner in the         following order:         -   i. searching DPS proprietary low-cost database of clients;         -   ii. searching DPS-partners low-cost databases;         -   iii. searching other databases;     -   (4) optional novel prescreening for the clients on demand, in         order to create a safe dating environment, which:         -   i. verifies the identity and personal data of the clients;         -   ii. optionally restricts access to the client's data only to             the members of the dating service, whose verified profiles             match the client's search profile for desired partners;     -   (5) integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way Search for Dating         Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which refers the         clients to the partnering providers of dating services which are         selected based on the client's criteria;

(6) providing powerful visualization tools for the following functions: describing the client; comparing between selected partners; providing photographs, audio, and video recordings of the clients; providing profiles questions and proprietary matching based on scientific research; providing other relevant data, including entertainment, travel, and research links.

FIG. 7 shows the block diagram of DPS 400. DPS 400 consists of the following services: Web UI 404, Persistent Two-way Search for Partners 406, Proprietary Referral Service 403, Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Aggregated Search for Dating Listings 410, Proprietary Dating Listing Service 412, and Other Providers Dating Listing Services 414.

Clients can use DPS 400 services as follows:

-   (a) clients can utilize Web UI 404 to manually search for partners,     to apply for prescreening, to evaluate potential partners, and to     perform all other relevant dating functions; -   (b) clients can utilize Two-way Persistent Search for partners 406     in order to automate the search process, to keep track of potential     matches with new members joining dating services and to save time.

DPS Aggregated Search for Dating Listings service 410 allows the clients to see all of the individuals listed by multiple dating service providers. In one embodiment, Aggregated Search for Dating Listings service 410 will save money for clients by trying to find a match in DPS Proprietary Dating Listings 412 and in the listings of other low-cost providers first. If none of the low-cost providers has a matching partner, then DPS Aggregated Search for Dating Listings service 410 will look at all other listings.

DPS Aggregated Search for Dating Listings service 410 will save time for clients by performing automatic persistent two-way search through listings of multiple dating service providers, as opposed to multiple manual searches of numerous dating service providers performed today. Two-way search will work as follows: in the first step, all the potential partners are selected based on the DPS client's search criteria from the participating service provider sites. In the second step, the selected potential partners are filtered based on their own stated matching criteria against the DPS client. As a result of this two-way search for a mutual match, only the potential partners which are desired by DPS client, and which desire the DPS client, will be selected.

Many individuals are concerned with personal safety when meeting strangers. DPS 400 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98 to its clients. Clients can request that prospective partners undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) no criminal record of the partner; -   (b) good credit history of the partner; -   (c) good employment record of the partner; -   (d) personal references of the partner; -   (e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the partner     through any of the integrated PIC services.

In addition to prescreening, the proposed Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98 will allow DPS clients on demand to register the date, time and place of a scheduled date in order to discourage any individuals with ill intentions from using DPS service 400. CPIOS 98 also provides an enhanced privacy option for DPS clients by restricting access to the DPS client's data only to the prescreened individuals whose profiles match the desired partner profile of the DPS client.

There are several online dating services. However, these services do not provide the desired money savings, time savings, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.

DPS vs. Match.com or Yahoo Personals

Match.com and Yahoo Personals are the top Internet dating services. DPS 400 offers the following advantages over Match.com and Yahoo Personals:

-   (a) Aggregated Search for Dating Listings 410; -   (b) Persistent Two-way Search for partners 406; -   (c) Certification and Prescreening of individuals and organizations     98; -   (d) Optional restricted access to the client's data only for the     prescreened individuals whose profiles match the desired partner     profile of the DPS client.     DPS vs. DateWatch.com

DateWatch.com provides prescreening service for its clients. DPS 400 offers the following advantages over DateWatch.com:

-   (a) Aggregated Search for Dating Listings 410; -   (b) Persistent two-way Search for partners 406; -   (c) Optional restricted access to the client's data only for the     prescreened individuals whose profiles match the desired partner     profile of the DPS client.

Business Models for DPS

There are several potential business models for DPS 400. In the first DPS model, DPS 400 provides its own proprietary Dating Listing Service 412 and DPS 400 competes with other service providers 414 for the paying clients. If some of the service providers limit the DPS server-mode search, then DPS 400 will still be able to use client-mode and mixed-mode of persistent search, as described in the Persistent Search section of the PIC patent application and in the Persistent Search section of this patent application.

DPS 400 will attract new dating clients to its service by pointing out the fundamental problem with the existing dating services 414, which do the matching only inside their own client database. The client A, who is paying to Match.com, will not be matched with the potential partner B, who is a paying client of Yahoo, by either Match.com or by Yahoo. As a result, both A and B are suffering because:

-   (a) they won't be automatically matched by their respective dating     service providers, and they will likely miss this matching     opportunity; -   (b) even if either A or B performs a manual search in the other     provider's database, he/she will have to subscribe to the other     provider in order to connect with a partner.

DPS 400 will solve these problems as described above, and therefore, DPS 400 will offer the best price/performance dating portal.

Clients of existing dating services will be targeted by DPS marketing, which will offer them to register with DPS 400 in order to overcome the above mentioned matching limitations of their service providers. Incentives, such as the free subscription for the first 10,000 clients, can be utilized by DPS 400 in order to quickly populate its own Proprietary Dating Listing database 412. It is expected that the “network effect” of the satisfied clients will quickly move many people from other expensive closed dating services into DPS low-cost, open, and safe dating service.

In the second DPS model, DPS 400 does not provide its own proprietary Dating Listing Service 412, nor does it compete with other dating services. DPS 400 partners with other dating services by matching the DPS individual clients with the clients in the partnering dating services based on the client's specified selection criteria. This selection criteria may include any of the following: the client's own profile, the desired partner profile, maximum allowed matching fee, the desired level of security and privacy expected from the service provider (e.g. prescreening of individuals; use of real names vs. use of aliases; use of “by invitation only” club vs. the “open network” of people, etc.) DPS 400 will consider its client's selection criteria in deciding which set of dating service providers it will use for a particular client. DPS 400 will utilize its persistent two-way search 406 (or any other negotiated search interface) in this selected set of dating service providers in order to find the best match for its client. After taking into consideration the specific objectives and constraints of each particular client, DPS 400 will advise its client regarding the best dating service provider, and it will collect a referral fee from the service provider. In this model, DPS 400 provides important value for both: its individual clients and its service provider partners.

It is expected that the top dating service providers will have to respond to the competitive pressure from DPS 400.

In the third DPS business model, service providers, including DPS 400, will cooperate with the selected service providers-partners by providing matching services across the group of cooperating service providers. For example, if the service provider S1 partners with the service provider S2, then S1 and S2 will try to match their respective clients A and B. In this case, clients A and B will be satisfied, because they will have been matched without having to pay extra fees to join the other partner's service provider. S1 and S2 will still be able to maintain their business model, because they will provide the necessary hosting, security, and aggregated search services to their paying clients.

The present patent application claims all three above mentioned business models of DPS 400.

Social Interests Matching Portal

The proposed Social Interests Matching Portal Service (or SIMPS hereafter) offers the following benefits to its customers:

-   (a) a single point of access to all relevant social interests     matching data and services for the clients; -   (b) providing to all clients money-saving and time-saving services     designed to achieve the following objectives:     -   (1) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         by providing novel aggregated search services, which search for         matching partners through multiple online listings of numerous         social matching service providers;     -   (2) substantially increasing the probability of finding a match         and saving client's time by performing novel Persistent Two-way         Search across numerous providers of social matching services;     -   (3) providing the best price/performance social matching service         for the clients by performing the novel search for partners in         the following order:         -   i. searching SIMPS proprietary low-cost database of clients;         -   ii. searching low-cost databases of SIMPS partners;         -   iii. searching other databases;     -   (4) optional prescreening for clients on demand, in order to         create a safe social interaction environment, which:         -   i. verifies the identity and personal data of the clients,         -   ii. optionally restricts access to the client's data only to             the members of the matching service, whose verified profiles             match the client's search profile for desired partners,         -   iii. providing optional “by invitation only” online club             functionality;     -   (5) integrating Aggregated Persistent Two-way Search for Social         Matching Listings with Proprietary Referral Service which refers         the clients to the partnering providers of social matching         services which are selected based on the client's criteria;     -   (6) providing powerful visualization tools for the following         functions: describing the client; comparing between the selected         partners; providing photographs, audio, and video recordings of         clients; using profile questions and proprietary matching based         on scientific research; providing other relevant data, including         entertainment, travel, and research links.

FIG. 8 shows the block diagram of SIMPS 450. SIMPS 450 consists of the following services: Web UI 454, Persistent Two-way Search for Partners 456, Proprietary Referral Service 453, Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations 98, Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings 460, Proprietary Social Matching Listing Service 462, and Other Provider's Social Matching Listing Services 464.

Clients can use SIMPS services 450 as follows:

-   (a) clients can utilize Web UI 454 to manually search for partners,     to apply for prescreening, to evaluate the potential partners, and     to perform all other relevant social matching functions; -   (b) clients can utilize Two-way Persistent Search for partners 456.

SIMPS Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service 460 allows the clients to view all of the individuals listed by multiple social matching service providers 462 and 464. In one embodiment, Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service 460 will save money for clients by trying to find a match in SIMPS Proprietary Social Matching Listings 462 and in the listings of other low-cost social matching providers. If none of the low-cost social matching providers has a matching partner, then SIMPS Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service 460 will look at all other listings.

SIMPS Aggregated Search for Social Matching Listings service 460 will save time for clients by performing automatic persistent two-way search through the listings of multiple social matching service providers, as opposed to multiple manual searches of numerous social matching service providers performed today. Two-way search will work as follows: in the first step, based on the SIMPS client's search criteria, all of the potential partners are selected from the participating service provider sites. In the second step, the selected potential partners are filtered based on their own stated matching criteria against the SIMPS client. As a result of this two-way search, only the potential partners which are desired by SIMPS client, and which desire the SIMPS client, will be selected.

Many individuals are concerned with personal safety when connecting with strangers. SIMPS 450 understands these issues, and it offers the Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98 to its clients. Clients can request that prospective partners undergo a prescreening process. The prescreening can be based on one or more of the following factors:

-   (a) no criminal record of the partner; -   (b) good credit history of the partner; -   (c) good employment record of the partner; -   (d) personal references of the partner; -   (e) feedback of individuals and organizations knowing the partner     through any of the integrated PIC services.

In addition to prescreening, the proposed CPIOS 98 will allow its clients to register on-demand the date, time, and place of a scheduled meeting in order to discourage anyone with ill intentions from participating in SIMPS 450. CPIOS 98 also provides an enhanced privacy option for SIMPS client by restricting the access to the SIMPS client's data only for the prescreened individuals whose profiles match the desired partner profile of the SIMPS client.

One important way of social networking is “by invitation only” online club. Such a club has the advantage of careful prescreening of its members, and protecting the privacy of the club. “By invitation only” club model can be selected for the following social interactions: business networking for the business elite or for confidential business discussions; social network of close friends; private network for referring friends seeking a dating partner; etc.

SIMPS 450 will utilize proprietary tools in order to create virtual communities of the like-minded people based on their common background, or common values, or common goals. Like-minded people will enjoy the benefits of discussing their business and social issues across the globe. For example, clients of SIMPS 450 will value the opportunity of receiving advice from the like-minded partners regarding possible relocations, selection of jobs, finding friends and dates, referral of professional services, selection of schools and colleges, travel advisory, finding friends for children based on children's interests, exchange of political opinions, etc.

SIMPS 450 will also target mass applications of social matching: business networking, dating, searching for a travel partner, etc.

There are several online social matching services. However, these services do not provide the desired money-saving, time-saving, security, and convenience to their clients, as discussed below.

SIMPS vs. eMode

eMode is one of the most popular social matching services. SIMPS 450 offers the following advantages over eMode:

-   (a) Aggregated Search for social Matching Listings 460; -   (b) Persistent Two-way Search for partners 456; -   (c) Certification and Prescreening of individuals and organizations     98; -   (d) Optional restricted access to the client's data only for the     prescreened individuals whose profiles match the desired partner     profile of the SIMPS client; -   (e) “By invitation only” service.

Business Models for SIMPS

There are several potential business models for SIMPS 450. In the first SIMPS model, SIMPS 450 provides its own Proprietary Social Matching Listing Service 462, and SIMPS 450 competes with other service providers for paying clients. If some of the service providers limit SIMPS server-mode search, then SIMPS 450 can still use client-mode and mixed-mode of persistent search for the partners as described in the Persistent Search section of the PIC patent application and in the Persistent Search section of this patent application.

SIMPS 450 will attract new clients to its service by pointing out the fundamental problem with the existing social matching services, which do the matching only inside their own database of clients. Client A, who is paying to the service provider SA, will not be matched with the potential partner B, who is a paying client of the service provider SB, either by SA or by SB. As a result, both A and B are suffering because:

-   (a) they won't be automatically matched by their respective social     matching service providers, and they will likely miss the matching     opportunity; -   (b) even if either A or B performs manual search in the other     provider's database, he/she will have to subscribe to the other     provider in order to connect with the partner.

By solving these problems as described above, SIMPS 450 will offer the best price/performance social matching portal and will provide a safe interaction environment for its clients.

The clients of existing social matching services will be targeted by SIMPS marketing, which will offer them to register with SIMPS 450 in order to overcome the above stated matching limitations of their service providers. Incentives, such as free subscription for the first 10,000 clients, can be utilized by SIMPS 450 in order to quickly populate its own Social Matching Listing database 462. It is expected that the “network effect” of the satisfied clients will quickly move many individuals from other expensive closed social matching services into SIMPS 450 low-cost, open, and safe social matching service.

In the second SIMPS model, SIMPS 450 does not provide its own Proprietary Social Matching Listing Service 462, nor does it compete with other social matching services. SIMPS 450 partners with other social matching services by matching SIMPS individual clients with the corresponding social matching service based on the client's specified selection criteria. This selection criteria may include any of the following items: client's profile, the desired partner profile, maximum allowed matching fee, the desired level of security and privacy expected from the service provider (e.g. prescreening of individuals; use of real names vs. use of aliases; use of “by invitation only” club vs. “open network” of people, etc.). SIMPS 450 will consider its client's selection criteria in deciding which set of social matching service providers it will use for the particular client. SIMPS 450 will utilize its persistent two-way search in this selected set of social matching service providers in order to find the best match for its client. SIMPS 450 will advise its client regarding the best social matching service provider, and it will collect a referral fee from the service provider. In this model, SIMPS 450 provides an important value for both: its individual clients and its service provider partners.

It is expected that the top social matching service providers will have to respond to the competitive pressure from SIMPS 450. In the third SIMPS business model, the service providers, including SIMPS 450, will cooperate with partnering service providers by providing social matching services across the group of cooperating service providers. For example, if service provider S1 partners with service provider S2, then S1 and S2 will try to match their respective clients A and B. In this case, clients A and B will be satisfied, because they will have been matched without having to pay extra fees to join the other partner's service. S1 and S2 will still be able to maintain their business model, because they will provide the necessary hosting, security, and aggregated search services to their paying clients.

The present patent application claims all three of the above-mentioned business models of SIMPS 450.

Trusted Net

This patent application presents the method and the system for connecting individuals and small businesses in a Trusted Net in order to facilitate trusted communications, e-commerce, and social interactions between the Trusted Net participants.

Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service (or CPIOS) 98 is one example of Internet services for facilitating Trusted Net. CPIOS 98 can certify the following:

(a) personal criminal records; (b) personal credit history; (c) personal residence and contact information; (d) personal driving records; (e) professional credentials and licensing; (f) educational credentials: diplomas, courses, degrees, etc.; (g) employment records; (h) personal references provided by the client; (i) feedback from other parties; (j) any other personal data and records.

By verifying and certifying the claims or credentials of its clients to authorized parties CPIOS 98 can assist its clients in the following activities:

(a) offering of part-time and full-time professional services by the client; (b) dating; (c) car-pool matching; (d) renting or leasing property for residence or vacation; (e) finding roommates; (f) buying or selling property; (g) trading expensive items with individuals: used cars, boats, furniture, arts, etc.; (h) social networking, travel companion search, etc; (i) any other business transactions and social connections.

CPIOS 98 will provide several methods of client's certification to the authorized parties.

An individual client of CPIOS 98 will specify a subset of personal information he/she wants to make public and a subset of confidential private information he/she wants to restrict to the specific parties. For example, the following public data could be authorized by the client to be shown to anyone:

(a) client name; (b) client contact address (e.g. email address, or URL, etc.); (c) a statement by CPIOS 98 certifying one or more of the following facts:

-   -   1) date of the membership in CPIOS 98;     -   2) no criminal record of the client;     -   3) good credit rating of the client (e.g. no bankruptcy, etc.);     -   4) client's membership in public organizations;     -   5) professional credentials and licensing;     -   6) educational credentials: diplomas, courses, degrees, etc.

The following private data could be selected by the client to be shown to the authorized parties only:

-   (a) client's residence; -   (b) client's phone number and contact addresses: email, voicemail,     URL, etc; -   (c) the name of the client's employer; -   (d) client's criminal record; -   (e) client's credit record; -   (f) client's driving record; -   (g) client's professional credentials and licensing; -   (h) client's educational credentials: diplomas, courses, degrees,     etc; -   (i) client's employment records; -   (j) personal references provided by the client; -   (k) feedback from other parties aggregated by CPIOS 98 from multiple     authorized sources which conduct business with the client.

FIG. 9 shows the block diagram of CPIOS 98 operations in one embodiment. CPIOS 98 will provide a Web server 530-based Web interface and a Messaging server 532-based messaging interface for the client 520 and his/her individual and business partners, shown as visitors 548. The client 520 can utilize Web browser 522 to connect with Web server 530. The client 520 can utilize Messaging Application 524 to exchange data with Messaging Server 532.

Visitors 548 can utilize Web browser 550 to connect with Web server 530. Visitors 548 can utilize Messaging Application 552 to exchange data with Messaging Server 532.

These servers 530 and 532 will allow the client's partners 548 to see the subset of the client's data 534, which is authorized by the client 520 for each specific partner or category of partners 548. For example, all visitors 548 to the client-specific URL hosted by CPIOS 98 will be able to see the client's public data 538. These data 538 will give some confidence to the visitors 548 that the client 520 is the one he/she claims to be. In order to see the private data 536 of the client 520, the visitor 548 of the CPIOS Web service 530 will have to get the authorization of the client 520. There are several methods for implementing the authorization procedure, as follows:

-   (a) a visitor 548 may obtain a password from the client 520, and     CPIOS Web service 530 will request the password from the visitor 548     in order to grant the visitor 548 access rights to the requested     data 534; -   (b) a visitor 548 may request the client's authorization through the     CPIOS Web server 530-based Web interface or through the CPIOS     Messaging server 532-based messaging interface. The visitor 548 may     request either all available private data 536, or any subset of the     private data 536 of the client 520. The client 520 may authorize the     visitor 548 to see all requested data 536, or any subset of the     requested data 536. The visitor 548 may use the predefined request     form which will identify the requestor 548, and which will specify     the requested data. This request form will be available as a Web     browser form, or as an e-mail form. CPIOS 98 will pass this     completed request form to the client 520. The client 520 will     authorize the release of the selected subset of the client's private     data 536 to the requestor 548 by checking the corresponding fields     of the request form. CPIOS 98 will make the authorized subset of the     client's private data 536 available to the requestor 548 through the     Web server 530-based Web interface or through the Messaging server     532-based messaging interface. For example, CPIOS 98 can send an     email message to the requestor 548 which will include a URL to the     CPIOS Web server 530 that will contain the requested data. This     specific URL can be created in response to the corresponding     request, and it can be destroyed after the requested party 548     utilizes the requested data. As a different authorization mechanism,     the client 520 can supply a password to the authorized visitor 548     after the client 520 receives the visitor's 548 request. -   (c) each subset of confidential personal information 536 can be     encrypted with the client's private key, or with the authorized     party's 548 public key, or with a password-derived key and forwarded     to the requestor 548 as an encrypted digital message.

There are several methods of managing access to the client's public data 538 as follows:

-   (a) CPIOS 98 can provide a digital certificate to its clients 520,     which will contain public information about the client 520. For     example, CPIOS 98 can provide “Trusted by CPIOS” digital certificate     and a corresponding graphic image to its client 520. The digital     certificate can contain the client's name, a set of public     information about the client 520, the certification time stamp, and     the CPIOS 98 signature. The digital certificate is digitally signed     by CPIOS 98 to prove the CPIOS identity. -   (b) CPIOS 98 can provide the client 520 with HTML code, which needs     to be included into the desired Web pages owned by the client 520.     This HTML code will point to the CPIOS Web service 530 which will     present the authorized visitor 548 with the client's verified     credentials. This HTML code may contain a customizable “Trusted by     CPIOS” graphic image.

Unlike the existing certification services which provide only a set of data regarding the client from one source (e.g. eBay provides a trading history of its clients; Amazon provides a merchant history of its clients; etc.), CPIOS 98 will aggregate the client's data from multiple sources, selected by the client 520. CPIOS 98 includes Aggregation of Clients Data service 540 which collects the client's data from Government 542, Credit Company 544, and Other Sources of Client's Data 546. In addition to the publicly available criminal history, driving, court, and credit records, CPIOS 98 will gather client's data from multiple online trading and social interaction sources. For example, CPIOS 98 will gather the following data with the client's authorization: feedback on the client's professional services, feedback on the client's trading activities, feedback on the client's social activities, etc.

Unlike the existing services which collect the consumer data, such as credit report services, CPIOS 98 puts the consumer 520 firmly in control of his/her data. CPIOS clients 520 make the following decisions:

-   (a) selection of their private data 536; -   (b) selection of their public data 538; -   (c) authorization for specific party 548 to access the specific     subset of client's data; -   (d) authorization for CPIOS 98 to collect the client's data from     specific sources 542, 544, and 546.

CPIOS 98 will generate reports for the client 520 regarding the history of collection and distribution of the client's data. The client 520 can utilize Client's Personal Data Management service 526 in order to correct any errors and submit personal comments regarding the client's data to the authorized parties.

It is expected that by providing certification and pre-screening to the individuals, CPIOS 98 will significantly contribute to the growth of Trusted Net, e-commerce, social matching services, and communications based on Trusted Net.

There are several existing certification services for small businesses and individuals. CPIOS 98 provides novel useful services as follows.

CPIOS vs. SquareTrade

SquareTrade provides certification of small businesses. CPIOS 98 will have the following advantages over SquareTrade:

(a) CPIOS 98 allows authorized parties to view private data 536 of CPIOS clients 520; (b) CPIOS 98 allows its clients 520 to select subsets of personal data 534 to be viewed by the authorized parties; (c) CPIOS 98 aggregates client's data from multiple sources: government 542, credit companies 544, banks, online e-commerce providers, and other sources 546.

Car-Pool Service

Real-time secure car-pool service was described in the PIC patent application. Present patent application expands on the integration of Real-time Secure Car-Pool Service (or RSCPS) with other Internet consumer services.

The proposed RSCPS will have the following features:

-   (a) novel prescreening of car-pool members; -   (b) novel matching of car-pool partners based on the following     factors: route, personal interests, method of transportation, and     price; -   (c) novel real-time ride bidding; -   (d) novel Aggregated Search for car-pool partners across multiple     car-pool directories.

FIG. 10 shows one example of RSCPS 600. It includes the following services: Web UI 604, Proprietary Car-pool Social Matching Service 606, Aggregated Search for Car-pool Partners 608, Proprietary Car-pool Directory 610, Other Car-pool Directories 612, Real-time Ride Bidding System Hosting Service 614, Proprietary Referral Service 618, and CPIOS 98.

In order to provide car-pool matching services, personal information will be collected by RSCPS 600 with the client's consent. Personal information includes one or more of the following: name, address, phone numbers, criminal record, driving record, age, sex, personal interests, preferences for a partner, type of car, preferred method of transportation, and preferred method and amount of payment. Preferences for a partner may include one or more of the following: age, sex, smoking habits, personal interests, etc.

Proprietary Car-pool Social Matching Service 606 will match partners based on the provided information. RSCPS 600 will release to the potential partners only the subset of personal data which is authorized by the client. RSCPS 600 will mark the data which have been verified by RSCPS 600 in order to provide security for the car-pool members 602. In the preferred embodiment, the client's directory is not provided to every client 602. Only the matching client's data will be available to another matching client. This restriction will help in limiting unwanted contact with RSCPS clients.

In order to provide the best value for the RSCPS clients 602 and for the community, RSCPS 600 will provide Aggregated Search for Car-pool Partners 608 across car-pool matching directories of its partners 612, including the government-sponsored directories. This will allow RSCPS 600 to leverage existing public and private investments in organizing car-pools, and to take advantage of the innovative social interests matching, trust, and real-time ride bidding features of RSCPS 600. RSCPS 600 will also provide Proprietary Car-pool Directory for its clients 610.

RSCPS 600 will provide Real-time Ride Bidding system Hosting Service 614 for matching drivers and passengers in real-time. Passengers can make an offer to pay a specified amount for a specified ride at specified time. Drivers can make an offer to provide a specified ride at specified time interval for a specified payment. Both passengers and drivers can request that their partner be prescreened by RSCPS 600. Such an arrangement will save money for passengers because the ride will cost less than the taxi ride, it will provide additional income for the drivers, and it will reduce the traffic.

RSCPS 600 will also provide van-pool services and event-pool services for sports events, political and social gatherings, etc.

The proposed RSCPS 600 will provide an important value for the community by reducing traffic, lowering pollution, and building social connections. RSCPS 600 offers a combination of enjoyable social time and contribution to the society. For example, individuals can select the desired social partners for car-pooling; drivers can help elderly people by taking them to doctors, shopping, and entertainment. Security of RSCPS 600 will facilitate formation of safe car-pools for children who attend numerous activities every day, as well as for other safety-minded individuals.

Driver's motivation to car-pool is based on the following factors:

(a) making some money to offset the costs of keeping the car, gas, parking, tolls, etc; (b) using HOV lanes; (c) matching with an interesting partner; (d) contributing to society.

Passenger's motivation to car-pool is based on the following factors:

(a) saving money on keeping the car, gas, parking, tolls, etc.; (b) using HOV lanes; (c) matching with an interesting partner; (d) contributing to society.

Proprietary Referral Service 618 refers RSCPS clients 602 to the partnering providers of related transportation services. It provides the clients 602 with useful additional data and services, and it creates an additional revenue opportunity for RSCPS 600 by charging the partnering providers of related transportation services the referral and/or advertisement fees.

Integration of Consumer Internet Services

FIG. 11—Integrated Consumer Portal 660 shows the links between the common underlying principles shown as hexagons and proposed consumer Internet services shown as rectangles.

The common underlying principles are:

-   (a) Maximizing client's convenience and implementation efficiency by     providing consumer-centric Integrated Portals 676; -   (b) Saving time and money for the clients, and maximizing success     rate of searches by providing Aggregated Persistent Search 680 for     all relevant data from multiple online sources; -   (c) Saving money for the clients by promoting Direct Trade 674     between individuals and small businesses without middlemen; -   (d) Saving time and money for the clients by promoting Direct     Matching 678 of individuals; -   (e) Facilitating secure personal and business networking and     electronic commerce within the Trusted Net 666 of individuals and     small businesses; -   (f) Saving time and money for the clients, and offering a great user     experience by providing Intelligent Hosting 662 for individuals and     small businesses.

These common principles form the foundation for integration and cross-promotion of all of the proposed distinct consumer services. In essence, the integrated offering can be viewed as a new type of intelligent online marketplace with multiple entrances, where each entrance brings in clients interested in a particular service. The following are the virtual entrances or services leading into the new intelligent integrated marketplace:

(a) Real Estate Portal 80; (b) Cars Portal 140; (c) Classifieds Portal 210; (d) Professional Services Portal 270; (e) Dating Portal 400; (f) Social Interests Matching Portal 450; (g) Real-time Secure Car-pool Service 600; (h) Persistent Search Service 682; (i) Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations Service 98; (j) Intelligent Hosting 664.

A customer enjoying the use of such features as pre-screening or aggregated persistent search in one of the services will naturally appreciate other services with similar features. This will allow the implementor to steer clients from one section of the proposed integrated intelligent marketplace to other sections and to maximize success of each and all of the distinct services by:

(a) marketing the entire integrated offering 660 as a consumer portal; (b) cross-promoting all component services of Integrated Consumer Portal 660;

The choice and the number of integrated consumer portal services deployed simultaneously will largely depend on the amount of initial investment, and risk/reward profile of the investors. Any combination of the proposed services will yield substantial savings in comparison with deployment of disconnected services as follows:

-   (a) marketing costs will be reduced by advertising multiple new     services simultaneously and by cross-promoting these services, as     well as by relying on network effect of “word of mouth” marketing; -   (b) common technology and implementation infrastructure will be used     to facilitate authentication, collection and maintenance of customer     data, billing, technical support and management functions.

The clients will appreciate the following benefits of Integrated Consumer Portal 660:

(a) single authentication of the client across all integrated consumer services; (b) uniform user interface across all integrated consumer services; (c) single billing service for all integrated consumer services; (d) safe trading and personal communication environment of Trusted Net 666.

Summary of Business Models

Most of the portals and services described above can be launched independently as the following self-contained profitable businesses:

-   (a) Intelligent Hosting Service revenues will come from individual     client subscriptions, advertising, and software licensing. -   (b) Real Estate Portal Service will generate its key revenues     through seller listing subscriptions, prescreening service,     referrals of real estate agents, estimators, inspectors, mortgage     providers, and other referrals, and advertising. The new aggregated     persistent search, security, direct “sale by owner” model, and     visualization tools provided free of charge to the buyers, will     attract a large pool of participating buyers. The substantial number     of active buyers using REPS will allow REPS to attract a large     number of subscription-paying sellers. Monetizing of REPS can be     easily adjusted in times when demand for real estate exceeds supply     by charging subscriptions or fees from buyers and providing free     service to the sellers. A large number of active buyers and sellers     registered with REPS will also allow REPS to monetize referrals to     other real estate services and advertisers. -   (c) Cars Portal Service revenues will come from “for sale” and     “wanted” car ad placements in the CPS directory, prescreening     services for individuals, prescreened dealer, loan provider, and car     mechanics referrals, and from advertising. The new aggregated     persistent search, security, direct “sale by owner” model, and     visualization tools provided free of charge will attract a large     number of individuals searching car ad directories. The substantial     number of users of CPS search service allows CPS to attract a large     number of subscription-paying ad-placing clients. A large number of     active participants in CPS will also allow CPS to monetize referrals     to other car services and advertisers. -   (d) Classifieds Portal Service will generate revenues through sale     of ad placements in CLPS directories, through prescreening of     individual clients, and advertisement. The innovative and effective     free search tools will attract a large number of clients to CLPS,     which in its initial stage will generate matches largely through use     of aggregated search across classifieds listing of other service     providers. As soon as the number of search users reaches critical     mass, CLPS will be able to leverage their active participation by     attracting paying clients who will place their classified ads in     CLPS proprietary database. The substantial number of CLPS users will     also generate interest on the part of other providers of consumer     services and advertisers. -   (e) Persistent Search Service will be monetized through     per-transaction or subscription-based fees. It will allow clients to     search for airline tickets, travel accommodations, car rental     services, travel packages, travel insurance, and other commodities     and services across multiple online vendors, as discussed in PIC     patent application and in this patent application. -   (f) Professional Services Portal will generate revenues from sale of     subscriptions to participating professionals, from bidding service     subscriptions, from prescreening of buyers and sellers of     professional services, from sale of web hosting and design for the     professionals who choose to outsource front end operations, and from     advertising. By providing free access to a wide selection of     professional services providers aggregated from numerous     professional services listings, PSP will become very attractive for     professional services buyers. This, in turn, will make it a very     desirable listing service for subscribing professionals. After     accumulating a sizable pool of clients, PSP will be able to charge     other services that match professional services buyers and sellers     for referrals and redirection. -   (g) Certification and Prescreening of Individuals and Organizations     Service will produce revenues through subscriptions to “Trusted by     CPIOS” certification services, through sales of background and     credential check service, and advertising. CPIOS will be an integral     part of all of the proposed consumer portals. It is also expected     that both, partnering and non-affiliated online businesses will     subscribe to CPIOS in order to add credibility to their claims and     to generate trust among their own clientele. -   (h) Real-time secure car-pool service will be monetized through     subscription to real-time carpool and personal interests matching,     through subscription or commissions for ride matching and bidding     service, and through advertising. Large employers, institutions and     local governments receive tax incentives from the Federal Government     for facilitating carpool matches. These organizations are often     compelled by regulations to achieve certain levels of participation     in ride reduction programs among their employees, students, or     constituents. In the initial stage, the RSCPS database will be     populated by partnering with large employers, institutions, and     governmental organizations. The superior service provided by RSCPS,     as compared with the mandatory basic carpool programs, is expected     to attract a large following and to increase the popularity of     carpooling. The client pool of RSCPS will be a natural audience for     cross-promoting RSCPS with other proposed intelligent portal     services as discussed below. -   (i) Dating Portal Service revenues will be generated through     subscriptions to personals ads directory, by providing background     check services, through referral fees collected from partnering     dating service providers, and through advertisement. In its initial     phase of deployment, DPS will give its clients the superior new     tools for searching for a match across numerous databases of other     dating service providers. The clients who appreciate the increased     likelihood of finding a match through DPS and enhanced security     provided by DPS will want to subscribe to DPS. The accumulated large     base of registered clients will also allow DPS to monetize     redirection links to partnering dating services and advertisers. -   (j) Social Interests Matching Portal Service revenues will come from     subscriptions to ad directories, from background and credentials     check services, from fee-based referrals of other networking service     providers, and from advertisement. By providing free new search     tools to its clients in a Trusted Net environment, including     aggregated search across databases of other social interest matching     services, SIMPS will attract a large number of clients who enjoy the     superior search results provided by SIMPS. The sizable number of     search users will in turn attract a large number of paying     subscribers who will place search ads within SIMPS database. Both     categories of SIMPS clients will form an attractive captive audience     that will allow SIMPS to monetize redirection links to partnering     other service providers and advertisers.

As previously mentioned, all of these individual services will be profitable on their own, but even greater efficiencies and profits can be generated by combining them into a single Integrated Consumer Portal or into smaller groups of complementary services. The Integrated Consumer Portal model was discussed above. The following are some particularly interesting examples of service combinations that can produce very attractive price/performance ratios:

-   (a) DPS and SIMPS can be launched together as a Dating and Social     Interests Matching Portal Service, where clients can have multiple     profiles intended for different types of matching. For example,     client A can be looking for a dating partner using profile P1, for a     job search connection using profile P2, and for a tennis partner     using profile P3, etc. The combination of DPS and SIMPS will allow     to quickly grow the client base and to maximize the chance of     finding the desired connection. Clients interested in DPS and SIMPS     will be offered discounts if they subscribe to both services. -   (b) RSCPS and SIMPS can be deployed together as an integrated     offering. To form the initial client base, RSCPS will be promoted to     large employers, institutions and to local governments. Both, RSCPS     and SIMPS will also be marketed to the general public in a joint     marketing campaign. Individuals interested in the social networking     aspect of RSCPS will be a natural audience for marketing SIMPS.     SIMPS will allow these clients to expand their search for new social     and business connections beyond the group of RSCPS clients whose     primary objective is to find good car-pool partners. And conversely,     the clients initially attracted to the social networking service,     will appreciate the opportunity to share a ride with new     acquaintances. The subscription to the integrated service will be     lower than the sum of separate subscriptions to RSCPS and SIMPS. The     combined offering will benefit from cross-marketing opportunities as     well as from broadening the base of potential clients. -   (c) DPS and SIMPS can be combined with CLPS into an Intelligent     Classifieds and Personals Portal (ISPP). In this combination, CLPS     can serve as the initial driving force behind quick adoption of the     new services. The entity deploying ISPP can partner with one or more     large businesses, such as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), to     attract the initial base of clients. By providing free tools for     persistent search of multiple classifieds to the partner's clients     along with the subscription-based ad placement in CLPS component of     the new service, ISPP will accumulate the initial pool of registered     clients. In exchange for facilitating marketing of CLPS, the partner     will be able to differentiate itself from competition by offering     free innovative search of classifieds. After being exposed to the     benefits of the proposed classifieds service, these clients will     easily appreciate similar features in the very profitable DPS and     SIMPS components of ISPP. It should be understood that the     similarities in business models of DPS, SIMPS, and CLPS allow to     start ISPP by marketing any of these services first or by marketing     all of them simultaneously. -   (d) All of the proposed services can be deployed on a nation-wide     scale. Some of these services, such as IHS, Persistent Search, REPS,     PSP, DPS and SIMPS can appeal to clients world-wide. At the same     time, certain services have strong connections to high density     population centers, and these services can be deployed as a group in     each selected metropolitan area. The local nature of carpooling,     used car trade, real estate trade, classifieds service, social     networking, and to a certain degree, dating service, make the     proposed RSCPS, CPS, REPS, CLPS, SIMPS, and DPS good candidates for     simultaneous marketing and deployment in each particular metro area.     This approach will produce substantial savings in marketing expenses     based on the following reasons:     -   (1) it would be possible to advertise all of these services in a         single concentrated marketing campaign (for example, direct mail         advertising within one metro area);     -   (2) word-of-mouth advertising works very well within each local         community.     -   The safety features imbedded in each of the proposed services         together with the networking objectives of SIMPS and DPS will         contribute to building trust and connections within each local         community. Such trust and connections will benefit each         community by promoting interconnectedness among its members and         creating a safe trading environment.     -   The number of metro areas targeted simultaneously for marketing         and deployment of the proposed services depends largely on the         amount of initial investment available and on the risk/reward         profile of the investors. After achieving pre-determined         financial success in the geographic areas selected for initial         deployment of the proposed services, one possible business         approach will be to deploy these services as franchises in other         locals.

There are numerous other ways of combining individual proposed services into sets of integrated services. It should be understood that the above mentioned examples were provided for illustration purposes only, and that any other combinations of these services are also claimed by the present invention. 

1. A method for an integrated consumer portal for a plurality of clients comprising the following steps: managing a plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and a plurality of personal matching consumer portals which are utilized by said plurality of clients; providing an aggregated persistent search service for said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and for said plurality of person matching consumer portals; and providing said plurality of clients with a uniform user interface, a single authentication, a single billing and a single customer support across said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and said plurality of personal matching consumer portals.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including the following step; providing said plurality of clients with an intelligent hosting service.
 3. The method of claim 2, further including the following step; providing said plurality of clients with a certification and prescreening service.
 4. The method of claim 1, further including the following step; providing said plurality of clients with a certification and prescreening service.
 5. A system for an integrated consumer portal for a plurality of clients comprising: a plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals for said plurality of clients; a plurality of personal matching consumer portals for said plurality of clients; an aggregated persistent search service for said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and for said plurality of personal matching consumer portals; a uniform user interface for said plurality of clients; a single authentication service for said plurality of clients to access said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and said plurality of personal matching consumer portals; a single billing service for said plurality of clients to pay for said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and said plurality of personal matching consumer portals; and a single customer support service for said plurality of clients across said plurality of electronic commerce consumer portals and said plurality of personal matching consumer portals.
 6. The system of claim 5, further including an intelligent hosting service for hosting of said plurality of clients.
 7. The system of claim 6, further including a certification and prescreening service for verification of credentials of said plurality of clients.
 8. The system of claim 5, further including a certification and prescreening service for verification of credentials of said plurality of clients. 